Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

State Auditor Shad White visited Mississippi State last week to encourage students to exercise their right to vote and inspire others to do the same. White said some of the fondest memories from his undergraduate experience stemmed from his involvement with voter registration drives. Coinciding with National Voter Registration Day, his presentation was sponsored by the university’s Student Association as part of a campus-wide Voter Registration Drive. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

MSU Extension hosts Breakfast on the Farm
School groups and families will soon have a chance to tour a dairy farm and learn where their food comes from. Hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Breakfast on the Farm is designed to promote an appreciation of the state’s dairy industry and feature educational activities for all ages. School groups can tour the MSU Bearden Dairy Research Center Oct. 17 and 18. Families and the public can visit the facility Oct. 19. The event will last from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy.

Deadlines for research faculty promotion requests
The Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State is reminding university departments to refer to MSU operating policy 56.06 regarding research, extension and clinical faculty positions. University deadlines are listed below, but departments, centers or colleges may issue earlier dates to complete the promotion process in a timely manner.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning for local and statewide races currently underway, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several guidelines that employees of the university should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. The Office of General Counsel encourages each employee to review this policy in its entirety to make certain you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Applications sought for faculty athletics rep
After 15 years of service as Mississippi State University's faculty athletics representative, Steve Turner will be stepping away from the role in 2020. A search for a new FAR is now underway. The deadline to apply is Oct. 16. Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter is chairing the FAR search committee. Committee members are Bracky Brett, executive senior associate athletic director; Ann Carr, executive senior associate athletic director; John Cohen, director of athletics; Randy Follett, president, Robert Holland Faculty Senate; Regina Hyatt, vice president for student affairs; Brandon Jolly, associate general counsel; David Shaw, provost and executive vice president, and MaKayla Waldner, student-athlete representative.

Race in America lecture series begins Tuesday
Mississippi State University’s fifth annual interdisciplinary lecture series -- Race in America -- kicks off Tuesday with a keynote lecture from alumnus Deadric T. Williams. “Over the past five years, we have had the honor of hosting at MSU more than 20 race scholars from across the country,” said event chair Margaret Hagerman, an MSU assistant professor of sociology. “This year, we are really excited to first host Dr. Williams.”

Deadline for teaching excellence awards Oct. 15
Mississippi State University faculty who are interested in submitting applications for the 2020 Grisham Master Teacher Award, the Alumni Association Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award or the Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence Award have until Oct. 15 to do so. All current full-time faculty members at MSU with the required years of service, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply for these awards.